Interest in Combank stocks enlivens CSE as ASPI crosses 20,000 points for the first time

The CSE started on a dull note but subsequently brightened up, mostly pushed by interest in banking stocks, especially by a Commercial Bank post interim results announcement yesterday.

- BY HIRAN H SENEWIRATNE

Amid those developments, the All Share Price Index crossed 20,000 points for the first time in history.

Provisional data showed the ASPI was up 1.65 percent, or 328.68 points, at 20,257.35, while the S&P SL20 was up 2.14 percent, or 123.68 points, at 5,904.26.

Market turnover was Rs 9.5 billion with fourteen crossings. Top six crossings were reported in LOLC 252,000 shares, crossed to the tune of Rs 142 million; its shares traded at Rs 550, Sampath Bank 850,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 119 million; its shares traded at Rs 140, CT Holdings 150,000 shares crossed for Rs 105 million; its shares traded at Rs 700, Singer (SriLanka) 105 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 104 million; its shares traded at Rs 69, HNB 170,000 shares crossed for Rs 64 million; JKH 2.5 million shares crossed for Rs 57.5 million; its shares traded at Rs 23.